The announcement today by President Barak Obama that all U.S. troops will leave Iraq by the end of December, effectively halts the planned deployment of Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, Third Infantry Division, according to a news release issued by Fort Stewart this afternoon.
The division headquarters was notified in May to prepare for a late fall deployment to Iraq. With Obama's announcement today, that deployment will not take place, the release said.
The 3rd ID, however, is still prepared for deployment to answer the nation's call wherever and whenever needed. Elements of the Third ID are currently assigned to the Global Response Force, a full-spectrum operations force that is on call 24 hours a day and able to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.
The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team at Kelley Hill, Fort Benning, is tasked to provide the armored punch to the force, and the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade at Hunter Army Airfield provides significant air assets, 3rd ID commander Maj. Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams said.
"The Third Infantry Division remains committed to the defense of our nation across the full spectrum of operations from high intensity combat to peace enforcement to any range of military support to the homeland. We are the Army's decisive force for any mission, anytime, anywhere." Abrams said. earlier today, Abrams met with more than 300 military retirees and outlined the way ahead for the division to them, sharing with them that the planned headquarters deployment would probably not occur.
3rd ID headquarters deployment off
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